Oklahoma College Students Owe Millions For Nontuition Charges

Current and former students at Oklahoma's two largest universities have charged millions of dollars in athletic tickets, computer products, doctor visits and other nontuition items to bursar accounts over the years.

By the end of last fiscal year, students at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University had at least $8 million in unpaid, nontuition charges made to their bursar accounts, which are maintained by universities to facilitate payments and handle other school-related business.

University officials say the schools aren't extending students lines of credit — a practice that is against Oklahoma law.

Records released by both universities show that housing and food services items are the largest category of unpaid bursar charges, totaling a combined $5.8 million by the end of the last fiscal year.